Machine for cutting tile and like articles



1940. c. A. MARTIN MACHINE FOR CUTTING TILE AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed Dec.18, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ll m'aiggiut'rola WW c. A.MARTIN 2,213,011 MACHINE FOR cuTTiNe TILE AND LIKE ARTICLES Filed Dec.18, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 i r 1 II Iiitiiifl liiif f dNVENTQE ma *9 vATTORN EYS Aug. 27, 1940. c. A. MARTIN MACHINE FOR CUTTING TILE AND LIKEARTICLES Filed Dec. 18, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY SPatented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITE STATES rarer tries Charles A.MartimBnffalo, N. Y.

Application December 18, 1939, Serial No. 309,731

7 Claims. (01. l2523)' This invention relates to a machine for cuttingtile for use in buildings but the same may also be employed for cuttingother like'articles to suit them for particular purposes.

It is the object of this invention to provide a machine of thischaracter'which is simple in construction and easily operable and whichcan be readily adjusted for cutting tile or other block articles to suitthe size of the article which is being cut. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a machine embodying asatisfactory form of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale, takenon'line 2--2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the means for mountingthe article supporting table on the frame of the machine in accordancewith this invention, this view being taken along line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section, on an enlargedscale, taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a complete vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale,taken on line 55, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross section, on an enlarged scale, taken online 6-i5, Fig. 3 and showing one of the table holding catches in itsoperative position.

Fig. 7 is asimilar view showing the respective table holding catch inits inoperative position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on line 88, Fig. 5 andshowing the respective table holding catch in its inoperative position.

Fig. 9 is a similar view taken on line 9-9, Fig. 5 and showing therespective table holding catch in its operative position.

Fig. 1G is a fragmentary, vertical, transverse section similar to Fig. 6showing a modified form of clamping means for locking each catch in itsoperative position.

In the following description similar characters of reference indicatelike parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A machine of this character is shown in Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, No. 2,180,743, granted November 21, 1939.

The numeral 28 represents the main frame of the machine which may be ofany suitable construction. Above the central part of the main frame isarranged a horizontal table 2| upon which is supported the article to beout, which in the present case is assumed to be a building tile or blockas shown by dotted lines 22 in Fig. 1.

The cutter for severing this block or tile preferably has the form of acircular blade or saw 23 of suitable abrasive material which rotatesabout a horizontal transverse axis and is bodily movable verticallyrelatively to the tilefrom the upper side thereof. This cutter isjournaled on the front arm M of vertically swinging rock lever or beamwhich is pivoted by a transverse rod 25 on v a standard 26 rising fromthe rear part ofthe main frame. On the rear arm 2i of this lever ismounted a motor or prime mover 28 for driving the circular cutter 23which motor is preferably electrically operated and transmits motion tothe .cutter by a belt 29 passing around driving and driven pulleys til,3! secured respectively to the shaft of the motor and the shaft of thecutter.

A vertically rocking movement is imparted to the lever 24, 21 for movingthe cutter toward and from the tile on the table by means of a treadle32 arranged lengthwise in the lower part of the frameand pivoted at itslower end thereto by a transverse rod 33 while its front end is providedwith a pedal 34, an upright link-35 connecting said treadle with thefront arm 2 of said lever, and a spring 36 connecting said treadle witha bracket 31 on the main frame. When the machine is at restth treadle israised by the springv 36, thereby raising the front arm of the levertogether with the cutter mounted thereon so that the latter clears thetile which is to be cut, this upward movement being limited byengagement of the treadle withla stop 38 on the lower part of the mainframe. Upon depressing the'treadle by foot pressure against the pedalthe cutter "is lowered. into engagement with the tile for cutting thesame. Means embodying this invention are provided for mounting the tablewhich supports the tile to be cut so that this table may be movedhorizontally relative to the cutter for severing the tile and the tablemay also be adjusted vertically for adapting the same to tiles ofdifferent height or wheels 43 mounted. on the side bars 40 and runningon said rails.

Arranged above the carriage is a metal supporting plate 44 which issecured by screws t to the underside of the table which latter ispreferably made of wood or similar material so that the cutter will notbe injured when coming in contact therewith and also permits of renewingthe latter when unduly worn.

The numeral 46 represents two guide legs arranged adjacent to the outersides or the longitudinal bars 40 of the carriage and secured at theirupper ends by screws 4? to the underside of the metal supporting plate44, as shown in Fig. n. The table supporting plate and guide legs 55 areadapted to move vertically on the carriage but are held againsthorizontal movement relative thereto by engagement of the inner sides ofthe legs with the outer sides of the longitudinal carriage bars 40 andby engagement of the front and rear edges of said legs with guide lugs:33, 49 projecting laterally from the front and rear parts of thecarriage, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9.

Fastening means are provided for holding the supporting table atdifferent distances relative to the cutter to suit the height of thetile which is being cut and also the diameter of the cutter which isused. The preferred means for this purpose shown in the drawings areconstructed as follows:

The outer side of each of the table guide legs 46 is provided with aplurality of stop shoulders 50 which face downwardly and are arranged invertical rows adjacent to opposite ends of this bar. Arranged lengthwiseon the outer side of each guide leg 46 is a longitudinal catch bar 5|which is pivoted at its opposite ends by screws 52, 53 to the front andrear guide lugs 4|, 42 on the respective side of the carriage, as bestshown in Figs. 3, 5, 8 and 9. On its inner side each catch bar isprovided with a detent flange or nose 54, the opposite ends of which areadapted to engage the underside of the corresponding stop shoulders onthe respective guide legs of the table. Each catch bar is turned in thedirection for yieldingly holding the detent flange thereof in the pathof the respective stop shoulders 50 by a spring 55 connecting anoutwardly projecting tail 56 on the respective catch bar with theadjacent part of the rear guide lu s 42, as shown in Figs. 3. 5, 8 and9.

In the lowermost position of the table the underside of the supportingplate 44 rests on the upper side of the carriage bars, as shown in Figs.1, 2, 3 and 4, in which position it is best suited for cutting tile ofmaximum height and using cutting disks of the greatest diameter. When itis desired to cut tile of lesser height or when using a cutter ofsmaller diameter, the table may be raised one or more steps and thenheld by the catches between the carriage and the table supporting means.

Fig. 3 shows in dotted lines the table raised one step from itslowermost position and Fig. 5 shows the same position by full lines. Asthe table is raised one step the projections 51 of the guide legs onwhich the stop shoulders are formed deflect the detent flanges 54 out ofthe paths of these shoulders, and when the latter have passed above thedetent flanges, the springs 55 turn the catch bars in the direction forengaging the detent flanges underneath the stop shoulders 56, as shownin Fig. 5, thereby holding the table and the tile resting thereon onestep higher than its lowermost position. Similarly, the table may beraised another step to engage the detent flanges with the next lowerstop shoulders 58 on the guide legs of the table if it is desired to cuttile of still less height or use cutter disks of still smaller diameter.In the drawings two sets of stop shoulders at different elevations areshown on the table guide legs, which permit of adjusting the tilesupporting table in three different positions relative to the cutter,but if more adjusting steps are desired or the length of the diiTerentsteps require variation the number and position of the stop shouldersmay be selected accordingly.

Complete withdrawal of the guide legs from the carriage is preferablyprevented by means of limiting stops 53 arranged on the lower ends ofthe table guide legs and adapted to engage with the underside of theguide lugs 4|, 42, thereby preventing accidental disassembling, of thetable and carriage during normal use of the machine.

Various means may be employed for turning the catch bars in thedirection for disengaging the detent flanges from the stop shoulders topermit of lowering the table on the carriage, those shown in Figs. 3, 4,8 and 9 being constructed as follows:

The numeral 59 represents a horizontally turning releasing platearranged along the inner side of each catch bar and its detent flangeand pivoted at its upper end by a vertical pin 60 on the adjacent partof the respective guide leg 46 while its lower end is loosely mounted bya pin (ii on the adjacent lower part of the same guide leg. The freeedge of this releasing plate engages with a releasing flange 62 on theadjacent part of the catch bar 5| and at its upper end this releasingplate is provided with a laterally projecting releasing finger orflngerpiece 63.

When it is desired to lower the table from an elevated to a lowerposition the operator takes hold with his hand of opposite longitudinaledges of the table and the adjacent parts connected therewith and at thesame time operates the fingerpieces 63 so as to disengage the detentflanges from the respective stop shoulders, after which the table may belowered as desired.

In order to avoid accidental disengagement of the detents from the stopshoulders 5!] locking means are provided which positively hold thedetent flanges in engagement with the stop shoulders. This may beaccomplished by various means, those shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9consisting of a clamping pin 64 guided on the inner part of each catchbar 5| to move laterally therein and adapted to engage its inner endwith the adjacent part of the respective guide leg 46, and a rotary cam65 pivoted on the catch bar and engaging with the outer end of therespective clamping pin and provided with an operating handle 66. Uponturning the cam 65 so that its salient face engages with the outer endof the clamping pin, the inner end of the latter will be pressed againstthe adjacent guide leg 46 and thereby hold the respective detent flangein engagement with the adjacent stop shoulder 50, as shown in Figs. 6and 9. Upon turning the cam 65 so that its receding face engages theclamping pin then the pressure on the latter is released and therespective detent flange is permitted to move out of engagement with theadjacent stop shoulder 50, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, leaving the tablefree to be shifted vertically as required.

If desired the detent flanges may be locked in engagement with a stopshoulder 50 by means of a screw 6'! mounted on the lower part of thecatch bar 5| and engaged with the adjacent part of the respective guideleg 46, as shown in Fig. 10.

When placing the tile to be cut on the table the same is engaged on'itsfront side with a guide 68 arranged on the front part of the table, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2. For the purpose of enabling the tile or articleto be. cut in the proper position on the table in a direction lengthwiseof the axis of the cutter or from the side of the latter, a gage orscale is provided consisting preferably of a strip 69 which is securedto the front side of the tile guide 68. As the piece to be cut off froma tile is usually removed from the left end of the whole tile or articlethe gage strip is graduated on its face from right to left in inches, asshown at 10 in Fig. 2, or marked by any other indications of measurementof length. Inasmuch as such measurement must be taken from the left sideof the circular cutter 23 and the thickness of the latter variesaccording to the character of the article or tile which is being cut,means are provided for conveniently adjusting the gage strip lengthwiserelative to the table and cutter. This is effected in the present caseby providing the gage strip 69 with a plurality of longitudinal slots Hand a plurality of fastening screws l2 passing through these slots andsecured to the guide 68 on the supporting table. The tile to be cut isplaced on the table while the latter is in its forward position, thenthe rotary cutter lowered the desired extent by depressing the treadleand then the carriage and table are moved backwardly and forwardly forrepeatedly engaging the tile with the cutter to produce a kerf thereinwhich severs a piece of the required length from the whole tile. Duringthis cutting operation the distance which the cutter is lowered iswholly dependent on the amount of foot pressure which is placed on thetreadle and thus permits of manually adjusting this pressure to suit thecharacter of the material which is being cut, the depth of the kerfwhich is being cut during any one stroke of the table or to suit otherconditions.

These means for adjustably supporting the article to be out are not onlyvery simple in construction and efficient in operation, but the same arealso strong and durable and not liable to get out of order and can bequickly and conveniently' adjusted so as to permit of cutting tiles orthe like expeditiously and economically.

I claim as my invention:

1. A machine for cutting tile and like article, comprising a main frame,a rotary cutter for cutting said article, and means for presenting saidarticle to said cutter including a horizontal track arranged on saidframe, a carriage movable horizontally on said track, a table adapted tosupport said article and movable vertically relative to said carriage,legs projecting downwardly from said table along said carriage and eachprovided with a plurality of stop shoulders arranged in a vertical row.and catches arranged on said carriage and adapted to engage saidshoulders for hold: ing said table at different heights relative to saidcarriage.

2. A machine for cutting tile and like article, comprising a main frame,a rotary cutter for cutting said article, and means for presenting saidarticle to said cutter including a horizontal track arranged on saidframe, a carriage movable horizontally on said track, a table adapted tosupport said article and movable vertically relative to said carriage,legs projecting downwardly from said table along opposite sides of thecarriage and each leg being provided on its outer side with a pluralityof'downwardly facing stop shoulders which are arranged in a verticalrow, catches pivoted on opposite'sides of said carriage and each havinga detent adapted to engage with a stop shoulder of one of said rows, andspring means for yieldingly holding said catches in their operativeposition.

3. A machine for cutting tile and like article, comprising a main frame,a rotary cutter for cutting said article, and means for presenting saidarticle to said cutter'including a horizontal track arranged onsaidframe, a carriage mova ble horizontally on said track, a table adaptedto support said article and movable vertically relative to saidcarriage, legs projecting downwardly from said table along oppositesides of the carriage and each leg being provided on its outer side witha plurality of downwardly facing stop shoulders which are arranged in avertical row, catches pivoted on opposite sides of said carriage andeach having a detent adapted to engage with a stop shoulder of one ofsaid rows, and locking means for positively holding said catches intheir operative position.

4. A machine for cutting tile and like article, comprising a main frame,a rotary cutter for cutting said article, and means for presenting saidarticle to said cutter including a horizontal track arranged on saidframe, a carriage movable horizontally on said track, a table adapted tosupport said article and movable vertically relative to said carriage,legs projecting downwardly from said table along opposite sides of thecarriage and each leg being provided on its outer side with a pluralityI of downwardly facing stop shoulders which are arranged in a verticalrow, catches pivoted on opposite sides of said carriage and each havinga detent adapted to engage with a stop shoulder of one of said rows, andlockingv means for positively holding said catches in their operativeposition and comprising clamping pins slidable on said catches andadapted to engage its inner end with the adjacent leg of the table, anda manually operable cam pivoted on each of said catches and engagingwith the outer end of the respective clamping pin.

5. A machine for cutting tile and like article, comprising a main frame,a rotary cutter for cutting said article, and means for presenting saidarticle to said cutter including a horizontal track arranged on saidframe, a carriage movable hori-. zontally on said track, a table adaptedto support said article and movable vertically relative to saidcarriage, legs projecting downwardly from said table along oppositesides of the carriage and each leg being provided on its outer side witha plurality of downwardly facing stop shoulders which are arranged in avertical row, catches pivoted on opposite sides of said carriage andeach having a detent adapted to engage with a stop shoulder of one ofsaid rows, and stops arranged on said legs and adapted to engage with sid carriage for preventing disassembling of said table from saidcarriage.

6. A machine for cutting tile and like article, comprising a main frame,a rotary cutter for cutting said article, and means for presenting saidarticle to said cutter including a horizontal track arranged on saidframe, a carriage movable horizontally on said track, a table adapted tosupport said article and movable vertically relative to said carriage,legs projecting downwardly from said table along opposite sides of thecarriage and each leg being provided on its outer side with a pluralityof downwardly facing stop shoulders which are arranged in a verticalrow, catches pivoted on opposite sides of said carriage and each havinga detent adapted to engage with a stop shoulder of one of said rows, andmanually operable means for disengaging said catches from said stopshoulders.

7. A machine for cutting tile and like article, comprising a main frame,a rotary cutter for cutting said article, and means for presenting saidarticle to said cutter including a horizontal track arranged on saidframe, a carriage movable horizontally on said track, a table adapted tosupport said article and movable vertically relative to said carriage,legs projecting downwardly from said table along opposite sides of thecarriage and each leg being provided on its outer side with a pluralityof downwardly facing stop shoulders which are arranged in avertical row,catches pivoted on opposite sides of said carriage and each having adetent adapted to engage with a stop shoulder of one of said rows,spring means for yieldingly holding said catches in their operativeposition, and a manually operated shifting device for disengaging eachof said catches from the respective row of stop shoulders including anupright releasing plate arranged between each catch and the adjacent legof the table and pivoted on said leg to turn horizontally for movingthis plate toward and from the respective catch and provided with alaterally projecting fingerpiece.

CHARLES A. MARTIN.

